Contraction band



JIIY'Z, 1943# B. RoBlNsoN I 2,324,538

coNTRAcTIoN BAND Filed July 1s, `1942 INVENTOR. o /Zy/E Op Patented July 20, 19434 e f `ooN'mAo'rIoN BAND f"lalistorfRobinson,United v lOaklanmc'alif. .v

y{ApplicatignJulyia,1942,'lseria1NpAsa'zsa 'f `*The invention described herein, if patented,` may be manufactured and used byorvfor the Government for, governmental purposes,V without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to contraction bands, and more specifically to a novel and imtraction band. a

Before describing the novel details of the present invention, it may be pointed out that the general vclass of structures to which the present invention relates consists vof a thin sheet metal contraction band provided with terminal fittings on eachfend, l. and a bolt or machine screw arranged to draw the opposite ends of the band vbe made on broken skis by encircling `the broken portions with the band and tightening the tension proved terminal fitting for the ends of a `con screw sufliciently to hold the parts in position,

i and to eifecta temporary repair." Such devices are well known in the art, and are commonly used by ski ltroops to effect emergency repairs oi broken skis; but it hasbeen discovered that the types of devices heretoforeused in the art have been faulty in 'that the connection between the thin sheet metal of vthe band and the terminal fittings for clampingv vscrew has been unsatisfactory, with the result that the terminal ttings have often been torncompletely apart from the thin sheet metal of the band itself; thus rendering the contraction band entirely useless.

It is, accordingly, the prime object of the present invention to Aprovide a novel and improved contraction band including a terminal fitting of novel design and of greater strength than those heretofore known in the art.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a fiat circular terminal body,` including a pair of trunnions extending on each side, and a central opening at right angles to the axis of the trunnions, the terminal body being arranged to interconnect the threaded nut of the `contraction bands in position on a broken ski.

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof.

FigQB is Kaperspective View of one of the con# traction bands constructedin accordance with the teachings of disclosure, the severalparts of the band being shown in disassembled positions.

`As heretofore stated contraction bands of the` generalclass to which the `present inventionrelates, comprise a relatively long, narrow, and very thinmetal band Il, provided witha tightening screwl 2, so that the band may be tightly claunpecl around `some object to be repaired, as, for example, around the two halves of a broken ski, the rearward half being indicated in the drawing by the numeral I3, andthe forward half by the numeral I4.

It will be understood, of course, that in repair equipment of this type, the most satisfactory results can be obtained only through the use of a band of extremely thin metal so that the lower surface of the repaired ski will be substantially smooth. The thickness may vary somewhat, but it is customary to provide a band having a thickness of `about .0125 of an inch; and when metal of this thickness is used, considerable vdiiiculty has been encountered by Virtue of the fact that types of terminal fittings known to the prior art have pulled loose when the screws I2 aretightened, or` when the repaired ski is subjected to strains incident to its use.- v

The shortcomings of the prior art terminal fittings have been overcome by the provision of the novel and improved terminal forming the essence of the invention inthe present application. This terminal consists of a main terminal fitting having a flat circular disk-shaped body I5 with a central drilled opening I6, and a pair of outwardly extending cylindrical trunnions I1 and I8 having their axis at right angles to the axis ofthe opening I6. `The metal strip Il of the contraction band has each end bifurcated to provide a central slot I9, and a pair of ears 2|Y and 22, spaced apartfrom each other a distance approximately equivalent to the diameter of the terminal body I5. These ears 2| and 22 are looped over the trunnions I'I and I8, respectively, and secured to the main body of the strip II by means of the rivets 23, or other suitable means, and it will be appreciated that this connection between the ends of the band I I and the terminal itting I5 is capable of withstanding relatively great strain, and will not be easily damaged by twisting or misalignment of `the contraction band. The clamping screw I2 includes oppositely pitched screw-threaded portions 24 and 25, each rivet 21 rotatably held in the central opening I6 of the terminal fitting I5.

From the foregoing it will be apparent thatthev connection between the thin sheet metal of the band II and the terminal fitting is established by means of the two reverse looped ears 2| and 22 that serve to provide a transverse bearing for the trunnion members I'I and I8, and thus distribute the load or strain on the band I I across its entire width. Further, the connection between the fitting I5 and the nut 2B is pivoted so that the strain is equalized on both sides of the band, with the result that the band can support its maximum load.

It may be noted in passing that the present structure has been devised to meet acute military needs, and has been adopted by the United States Army as the most satisfactory tting of this nature available; but it is believed that its utility is not limited to military uses, but extends to commercial fields of endeavor as well; and it is,

accordingly, requested that the scope of the in-v` vention be regarded as limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a contraction band in combination, a re1- atively long, narrow, and extremely thin exble metal band having a pair of terminal ttings adapted to be drawn into engagement with each other by a clamping screw, the entire structure being characterized by the construction of the terminal fitting including a threaded nut adapted to receivethe clamping screw, said nut including a pivot at a right angle to the axis of the .clamping screw and normal to the plane of the v flexible band; a main terminal tting comprising an enlarged body portion mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot of the nut, and having a pair of cylindrical trunnions extendingoutwardly I I from the body at right angles to the axis ofthe pivot on the aforementioned nut; and a 'pair of ears on the thin metal band, said ears' being spaced apart from each other a distance approximately equivalent to the diameter of the body of the terminal fitting, and said ears being each formed in a reverse loop around one of the trunnion members of the body, to providelong, s1en,

der trunnion bearings interconnecting the end of.

the flexible band with the main terminal tting'.

BESTOR ROBINSON. 

